Newsweek, July 2025
A known human carcinogen has been found in drinking water sources across the country, according to a report by the environmental organization Waterkeeper Alliance. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, referred to as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” as a Group 1 carcinogen. The Waterkeeper Alliance’s study shows the prevalence of the harmful chemicals in U.S. surface water, a major source of the country’s drinking water. Newsweek has contacted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for comment via email.
PFAS chemicals have been widely used across various industries and consumer products for many years—such as in nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing and stain-resistant furniture. However, more research has been raising caution to the harm the substances pose to public health. Water contamination in U.S. drinking water systems has also become a growing concern across the country, and the Environmental Working Group’s water contaminant database shows that in many states, certain harmful contaminants are in drinking water at levels higher than the EPA’s maximum contaminant levels.
